Mr. Big officially concluded his farewell tour, The BIG Finish!, with a final show at the iconic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on February 25, 2025. The tour concluded after performances at other notable venues, including festivals in India and a stop in Osaka.
Initially scheduled to end in August 2024 in Romania, the tour gained new chapters after invitations came from Asia, where the Americans have always had a fervent fan base. According to Eric Martin , the Budokan was more crowded than ever, with an estimated audience of up to 15,000 people. "It was the perfect ending," the vocalist declared in a recent interview with the Chaoszine website.
Eric Martin admits he wants to return to the stage
Despite the farewell tone, the decision to stop touring doesn't seem to be definitive for all the members. Eric admits that he already feels the urge to return to the stage, even in smaller formats like occasional festival appearances – because he doesn't believe they had to end their career. However, bassist Billy Sheehan adopts a firmer stance, considering the tour the final point in the band's history – in relation to the cycle of recordings and tours.
The decision to say goodbye came after a long period of uninterrupted activity. Since its formation in 1988, Mr. Big built a solid global base and performed shows on every continent, notably in markets such as Japan, Germany, and South America. Guitarist Paul Gilbert and drummer Nick D'Virgilio , who joined the band in 2023 after the passing of Pat Torpey , also celebrated the end of the journey with gratitude on social media.
The band's last studio album, Ten , was released in July 2024 , and their final live recording, The BIG Finish Live , was released in September of the same year, celebrating the classic 1991 Lean Into It and other hits. Although their touring schedule is now closed, the members are still considering future possibilities for a smaller-scale return—but without making any promises.
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